$30K Repair: Tree Roots in Sewer Line

So, my 114-year-old ceramic main sewer line backed up into my basement on Thanksgiving. It's a sealed concrete basement with one of those old-time in-floor shower drains which it backed up through, so no damage, just ugh. They came and cleared the clog, really gross, but it turns out the pipe is cracked and full of tree roots along its 60-foot length, unable to just line it.

So, on Monday, the excavator crew came to dig out the 6-8 foot deep pipe, and are still at it. Had to take down my fence, put a porta potty in the yard, and dig, dig, dig through the yard and sidewalk. Mechanical setbacks, cave-ins from the crappy ancient fill, and cost overruns. $30K, and insurance doesn't cover it, whee.

Not done till probably Tuesday when the city comes to inspect before they repair the sidewalk. At least the line works today when Marlena came back from Mill City.

Fun had by all.